15 Ch. 15: Nothing

"Who is she?" asked a soft voice with a little steel behind it.

It was at this moment the second-class maid rushed over and saw the scene Zhao Suiyan had caused. Pitying herself for her short life, the maid thrust herself to the feet of Empress Chu's retinue and began kowtowing as if her life depended on it, which it did.

"Your Majesty, please have mercy. This is Imperial Concubine Zhao's younger sister, Zhao Suiyan. She is young and hasn't learned the palace rules properly. Please forgive her." the second-class maid cried, her forehead starting to bleed.

Tears poured down the maid's face, making for a pitiful display. Zhao Suiyan, who was watching the maid's performance within the grasp of the eunuch's felt a thread of irritation in the sea of fear she was drowning in.

The performance was too much, the blood running down her pale cheeks and onto the floor making the scene far more incriminating. If this situation were to be seen by others, there would certainly be a rumor of the empress being harsh on servants running through the imperial capital by the morrow. For a woman who prided her reputation above all else, how could she take this lying down?

Indeed, the same thought was running through the empress' mind and that of her close attendants. She had originally planned to let Zhao Suiyan leave without much mishap and appear to be especially forgiving, but this silly maid was mucking up her plan. It was perplexing how that Imperial Concubine Zhao, who always had a smart mouth when she came for morning greetings, would have such a foolish maid in her service.

Nevertheless, Empress Chu was in a slight bind, one that irritated her and increased her hatred for the recently favored Imperial Concubine Zhao. She waved her small hand slightly and her lead eunuch immediately understood, his face turning stern at once.

"When did the empress say that Young Miss Zhao had committed a crime? Just a small servant, yet you wish to put words in the empress' mouth?" he raged in a sharp voice that silenced any future protests.

"Forget it, Eunuch Defeng," Empress Chu cut in as if she were putting a leash on her loyal dog when in actuality she was the one who had let it off the leash in the first place. "The new year has recently passed, I do not wish to see any severe punishment in the palace."

The empress' personal maid stepped forward and pointed at Zhao Suiyan. "The empress has shown you mercy. Kneel and show your gratefulness."

The vise-like grip on both arms loosened and Zhao Suiyan tumbled to the floor, narrowly catching herself and scratching her palms in the process. Her body trembled as she lowered herself to a kowtow.

"Sorry, Your Majesty for blocking your esteemed path," Zhao Suiyan murmured, all her previous bravado gone. "Thank you for sparing this subject's life."

Her words sounded sincere but were in actuality very hollow, simply an echo of her mother's words. In her youth, Zhao Suiyan had frequently watched her concubine mother humble herself before her official mother in order to prevent herself and her daughter from being 'taken care of'. It was all a game she had seen frequently and could play well on occasion.

"It is good you know. Now, kneel for the next 4 hours," the maid snapped. Her tone was slightly softer however, for Zhao Suiyan had played the game the exact way she was supposed to. The empress was similarly pleased, but a little wary as well. She had previously contended with one Zhao sister and did not like the little minx who attempted to step over her head just because she was favored at the moment. It seemed both sisters were cut from the same unnecessarily clever cloth.

The empress looked at Imperial Concubine Zhao's little sister, but the younger sister did not lift her head once to look at Empress Chu. Most people, even those who were usually a bit wiser, would take a small peek at the empress. Empress Chu had a contemplative look as her lead eunuch ordered the procession to continue, leaving Zhao Suiyan to kneel beside the gate in a pile of snow that had been swept to the side.

"Suolian," she called, beckoning her head maid over with her voice as both her hands were tucked in a fur handwarmer.

"Your Majesty."

"What is known about Zhao Suiyan?" she asked carefully.

"Her?" Suolian said. "She is Imperial Concubine Zhao's younger shu sister but is reportedly treated better than her status due to the fact she is the only marriageable girl left in that household."

Empress Chu pursed her lips. "Is she betrothed? She looks old enough to be married."

"No, Your Majesty. She was betrothed in her youth to a shu son of another household but he died when they were about 10 and she hasn't had another engagement since," Suolian dutifully reported.

For a moment, all that could be heard was the gentle rocking sound of the empress' wood litter.

"Your Majesty," Suolian asked, sensing her master's unease, "Would you like to take care of her?"

This she whispered quietly although all the maids and eunuchs present were loyal as they had close relatives that were under the Chu family's control.

Empress Chu shook her head, her pristine kingfisher accessories glinting in the sunlight. They matched exquisitely with her demure cerulean gown that gave off a calming aura.

The young empress was only in her 20s, but she had lived in the deep palace for years and developed keen senses towards those with ill intentions. And there was something about Zhao Suiyan she just couldn't put her finger on that filled her discomfort.

"Find an eligible bachelor of not too high standing and ensure that his matchmaker approaches the Zhao Family within this week. Tell Father to donate some betrothal gifts to the lad so that the Zhao Family finds it difficult to say no. As for Imperial Concubine Zhao's maid, do be kind enough to send her mistress a message," Empress Chu said, her poor mood nudging her to give Imperial Concubine Zhao a mild show of strength.

"As you wish, Your Majesty," Suolian said with a slight curtsey.

"Truly a kind empress," Zhao Suiyan muttered darkly as the litter rounded a corner and disappeared, her foolhardiness melting her fear like a block of ice under the sun. Her tender knees still ached from kneeling in Zhongcui Palace and now, shortly after that incident, she was forced to kneel again outside with only the icy snow as a cushion.

The second-class maid who was still leaking blood from her head was glaring bitterly at her, prompting Zhao Suiyan to lash out at her too.

"What are you looking at? If you hadn't been so insistent on kowtowing and making the empress look like a tyrant, neither of us would be here! Useless slave, this is what you deserve for trying to humiliate me."

For good measure, Zhao Suiyan harshly poked the girl's bleeding head, causing the girl to tumble from her knees to the hard ground below.

"You-" the second class maid snapped, her anger leading her to raise a hand to strike Zhao Suiyan. In her opinion, if it hadn't been for Imperial Concubine Zhao's useless little sister, she would still be inside the cozy Zhongcui Palace laughing with her maid friends about Zhao Suiyan. But now she had suffered a confrontation that had angered the woman in the empire who was in charge of the six palaces and was kneeling in the snow. Even the most placid monk would be angered to death.

"It's her!" a male voice cried. Both women turned their heads to see two eunuchs pointing at them, and one of them looked familiar as he had previously been a part of the empress' retinue.

Zhao Suiyan instinctively backed away and raised her hands, but the men weren't even looking at her.

"Wait! What is this? You can't do this to me! I am Imperial Concubine Zhao's maid, you can't grab me as you like!" she wailed loudly, forcing one of the men to stuff a rag in her mouth.

"For speaking out against the empress, her majesty has granted you leave of your tongue," one of the eunuchs insidiously murmured. The second class maid looked up and her eyes widened in shock as she realized the second eunuch was actually the one she had asked for help earlier.

"Older brother, older brother!" she cried in a muffled voice, tears welling up in her eyes pitifully. However, even if she could somehow sway the stoic eunuch, her appearance was ruined from her fervent kowtowing and red face, only serving to make the eunuch more steadfast in his actions.

It was now, in a bizarre twist of fate, that the second-class maid looked hopefully at Zhao Suiyan who was watching passively in the corner. Zhao Suiyan smirked rudely, even waving at the struggling figure that was being dragged away.

"Useless maid," she muttered again, her anger slightly assuaged by what she deemed divine justice.

"Satisfying wasn't it?" a low, clever voice suddenly said next to her ear.

Zhao Suiyan loudly yelped as her heart skipped a beat, tumbling into the snow beside her and wetting her silk sleeves.

"Who is it?" she loudly yelled, whipping her head side to side frantically.

"I'm behind you. Now, not so loud unless you want to draw the entire palace here." the voice said just as quietly.

Clutching her heart that was beating as fast as a hummingbird's wings, Zhao Suiyan turned her head slowly to see a young eunuch, perhaps only a year or two older than her with simple, smooth features. Neither ugly nor handsome, it was a face that was rather forgettable if it wasn't for the strange glint in his eye that frightened her a little.

But as she had jumped so embarrassingly before, Zhao Suiyan hid all her nervousness and allowed for a mask of annoyed indifference to come over her face. She quickly scanned his clothes and noted that he didn't appear to be attached to any palaces or important offices, most likely just a lowly eunuch.

"What do you want? I'm telling you, I'm Imperial Concubine Zhao's younger sister. If you do anything to me, you won't even know how you died," she said assertively, crossing her arms over her chest.

Instead of showing signs of nervousness or backing away the eunuch nodded approvingly. "Not bad, not bad." He seemed to be appraising her like a fine vase or painting rather than a person, leaving a disconcerting feeling in Zhao Suiyan's stomach.

"Your face is decently attractive, although you should paint your brows to be straighter rather than curved. Also, switch up the color palette. Light colors are not bad, but you aren't that pale so bold ones would suit your coloring better," he said analytically, a hand on his chin.

"Y-Y-You dog servant! How dare you pick apart my features!" Zhao Suiyan roared, albeit more quietly than she normally would have. This unknown eunuch was picking her apart after she had been embarrassed by her sister and the empress. She was not willing to stomach another loss.

"Your highness, please calm down," the eunuch said deferentially, giving Zhao Suiyan a curtsey befit an imperial woman. The next words from the young miss never came out, as her mouth fell open and she looked side to side to make sure no one had seen the eunuch's actions. They were alone in the walkway and a strange thrill ran through Zhao Suiyan's heart.

"You're crazy," Zhao Suiyan seethed through her teeth. "Is it your first day at the palace?"

"It is not," the eunuch replied carefully, "but it could be yours soon."

Hearing this unknown eunuch voice Zhao Suiyan's deepest desire, the young miss thought quickly and immediately became mindful of her words. For all she knew, this could be a test from Empress Chu.

"What are you talking about? My sister is happily married to the emperor and I wish her the best. Are you suggesting I would dare try to take away her happiness?" she said carefully with a venomous look.

The eunuch looked over Zhao Suiyan carefully. "You could. After all, everything I just said to you are things the emperor likes in beautiful women."

Zhao Suiyan chortled. "You clearly don't know anything. My sister dresses in various floral colors day in and day out and is currently beloved by the emperor."

"Indeed she is, but how long does imperial favor last. One month, two? Men always like women who pull them off their feet and don't always act like timid, little flowers."

"A eunuch dares to lecture me on what men like? How would you know that?" Zhao Suiyan mocked coldly, rudely swinging her eyes downwards where the standing eunuch's nether regions should've been.

Somehow, the young eunuch wasn't offended, instead drawing close to Zhao Suiyan's ear and murmuring tantalizingly.

"I am to be transferred to the emperor's Qianqing Palace tomorrow, where I will be within proximity to the emperor every day. Zhao Suiyan, would you like to climb a dragon and stick to a phoenix? How badly do you want the imperial favor your older sister enjoys every day?"

Zhao Suiyan knelt frozen, disbelieving what her ears had heard. Distrust and greed waged war inside her, leading her to say nothing for several moments. The anonymous eunuch seemed to expect it too, his eyes soft as he looked at Zhao Suiyan.

"Just think about it. If you agree, the next banquet you attend, make two pouches embroidered with peaches. Give one to your grandmother and wear the other to a banquet. Make sure people know of your filialness to your family," the eunuch ordered. He lifted his head suddenly as if he sensed something and walked away from Zhao Suiyan slowly, picking up the buckets he had set down to meet with her. Picking up his heavy load once more, the unknown eunuch who had shaken Zhao Suiyan's world resembled an ordinary palace worker once more.

His steps were slow, perhaps deliberately so, as Zhao Suiyan called out before he had even made it a few paces away. The young miss' head was spinning and her thoughts were so chaotic she couldn't feel the cold seeping in through her knees anymore.

"Why?" her trembling voice asked the eunuch's back, her voice the most humble it had been in their entire conversation. She still had many hours left to kneel, otherwise, she would've run after that man herself. Zhao Suiyan's heart hung on the cusp of a resounding yes, but she needed one last push, one last reason to agree to a plan that could very well backfire and kill her.

Cheerful conversation could be heard behind them as a few tittering maids suddenly merged onto their previously empty path. They saw Zhao Suiyan kneeling ahead of them and their voices lowered slightly, disgust in their eyes. Those lowly maids were looking down on her as if she, Zhao Suiyan, was lower than dirt. It rankled her soul and she desperately wished she could slap them as she did her unruly servants at home, but here in the palace, she was nothing. Zhao Suiyan understood this completely as the maids didn't even bother to slow their pace or display any sign of respect to her.

The eunuch pretended to stumble and drop the buckets he had propped up on his shoulders, causing the maids to shriek and curse at him a little before carrying on their way. He made a show of picking up the heavy buckets until the maids had passed out of earshot then turned to Zhao Suiyan with an unreadable look that was more honest than anything she had seen on his face.

"Because," he tiredly replied while he hoisted up his burden once more, "I, too, no longer wish to be nothing."